The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Tonight I was winding my VV-2-55 Orthophonic portable and while winding there was a short, loud screeching noise. Now, when it plays a record it makes the same screeching noise every minute or so and I see the crank wiggle. Anyone know what this can be? It has played nicely up to now.

Has the mainspring ever been serviced?

Bill

I suppose this thread would be better addressed in the "Tips & Tricks" section.

I agreee that the symptoms seem to indicate a problem with the mainspring. In the best case, it needs to be cleaned and lubricated.

In the worst case scenario, it is broken. Depending where the breakage occurred (at the beginning or at the end of the spring) you might be able to wind it up enough to play an entire record, but you wouldn't be able to wind it up fully, you should hear it slip and unwind inside its barrel at one point or another.

In any case, the gramophone needs to be disassembled and the motor inspected while running.

I don't own this specific model - does anybody know wether the crank anti-unwinding mechanism is implemented with a pinion-and-teeth or with a friction spring? This may also be the cause.

I am not familiar with this particular machine, but have had a similar problem in the past with others. If it has an automatic brake that shuts the turntable off at the end of the record, check to see if the leather pad is worn or hard. The noise I had was caused by a metal to metal problem with the brake pad being worn, similar to the noise made when your automobile brakes wear out...

Try running it with the turntable removed. It sounds as if the motor has dropped or become loose and the turntable is scraping on something.